Idioms

Idioms

For common expressions in the language.

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Idioms

Swim with the fishes

Language; Idioms

If someone is swimming with the fishes, they are dead, especially if they have been murdered. 'Sleep with the fishes' is an alternative form.

No time for

Language; Idioms

If you have no time for an activity, you have absolutely no desire to spend or waste any time doing it. You can have no time for people, too.

Needle in a haystack

Language; Idioms

If trying to find something is like looking for a needle in a haystack, it means that it is very difficult, if not impossible to find among everything around it.

Once bitten, twice shy

Language; Idioms

If somebody is said to be once bitten twice shy, it means that someone who has been hurt or who has had something go wrong will be far more careful the next time.

Wake up and smell the coffee

Language; Idioms

When someone doesn't realise what is really happening or is not paying enough attention to events around them, you can tell them to wake up and smell the coffee.

Pull rank

Language; Idioms

A person of higher position or in authority pulls rank, he or she exercises his/her authority, generally ending any discussion and ignoring other people's views.

Sight to behold

Language; Idioms

If something is a sight to behold, it means that seeing it is in some way special, either spectacularly beautiful or, equally, incredibly ugly or revolting, etc.